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President Bola Tinubu Rewards Super Falcons with Generous Cash and Honors
President Bola Tinubu has made a significant gesture to the Nigerian women’s football team, the Super Falcons, following their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) victory. The team was awarded over ₦152 million each, along with national honors and other gifts, in recognition of their achievement at the 13th edition of the tournament.
The Super Falcons secured their win by defeating Morocco 3-2 in the final held at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Saturday, July 26. Upon their return to Nigeria, the players were welcomed by several ministers, governors, high-ranking government officials, and media representatives at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport before proceeding to the State House in Abuja on Monday, July 28.
During the reception, President Tinubu announced an additional ₦76 million for each of the 11 members of the technical and backroom staff. In addition, the former two-time governor conferred the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) on the players and coaches. Each player also received a three-bedroom apartment in Abuja as part of the rewards.
Governors Add to the Rewards
In a separate gesture, the Nigeria Governors Forum, led by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, contributed an additional ₦10 million to each player’s reward package. This brought the total cash benefits for each player to over ₦150 million. The move was widely reported by various media outlets, highlighting the collective effort of state leaders to celebrate the team’s success.
However, not everyone is satisfied with the distribution of funds. A local coach, Godwin Tondo, who previously played for Benue Buffaloes, expressed his concerns about the disproportionate allocation of resources to football compared to other sports in Nigeria.
Coach Criticizes the Reward Distribution
Tondo pointed out that many sports in different states are struggling due to insufficient funding. He argued that football receives a large portion of the budget, while other sports face challenges in participating in national competitions. He urged the governors to invest more in these underfunded sports to promote youth development.
Tondo suggested that each state should allocate ₦10 million annually to sports associations, allowing them to attend tournaments without financial constraints. He emphasized that this amount could cover the costs of participation in national events, except for the National Sports Festival.
He stated:
“₦10 million from all the State Governors to the Super Falcons players for winning the WAFCON is totally unfair. Other sports suffer to attend national competitions from these states with a minimal Budget of ₦3 to 4 million. My dear Nigerian Excellencies, ₦10 million can sponsor a each associations to various national competitions in Nigeria except the National Sports Festival. Give the State sports councils 10 million per year for each of the associations and they will not ask you of any money to attend national competitions.”
Super Falcons Express Gratitude to First Lady
In another development, the Super Falcons players praised the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during their reception at the Presidential Villa. They used the now-famous chant “Na our mama be this o” to express their admiration for her support. The First Lady expressed her joy and solidarity with the team, celebrating their 10th WAFCON title.
This gesture highlighted the deep connection between the team and the First Lady, reinforcing the sense of pride and unity among the players and the broader Nigerian community.
